Magnetic conveyer



April 24, 1934. F W, JESSQP 1,956,291

MAGNETIC CONVEYER Filed Aug. 3, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 f, :Jn/manteau April 24, 1934. F, w, JEssoP MAGNETIC coNvEYER Filed Aug. 5, 1931 3 Sheecs-Sheel'l 2 v NVENTOR. /:'/4Nc/5 W L/JJQP @y ATTORNEY.

April 24, 1934. W. JESSOP 1,956,291

MAGNETIC CONVEYER Fild Aug. 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Syvum/sto@ Patented Apr. 24, 1934 srA'rss PATEN OFFICE MAGNETIC CON VEYER Application August 3, 1931, Serial No. 554,624

19 Claims.

This invention relates to conveyers for use in handling magnetizable articles such as steel plates, tubes, bars, slabs, ingots and the like. More particularly it relates to devices of the roller i .5 type for conveying such materials which are inagnetizable.

According to the present invention there is provided a magnet having as its central pole piece or as an extension of a stationary central pole l piece, a rotatable article-carrying member composed of magnetizable material. The material can be carried on the roller, or the unit can be reversed and the material supported magnetically under the roller. The rotatable pole piece is l disposed close to the steel housing of the magnet, or to thepole piece, so that the air gap in the magnetic circuit between these members is extremely short. It is at times preferable in order to obtain maximum traction to locate the roller over the magnet coil and to provide two poles of the opposite polarity, one on each side of the rotating pole. vThese other poles are so disposed as either to engage the articles being conveyed by the rotary pole piece or to be separated from such articles by a comparatively small air gap. The magnetic lines of force at the point of contact between the articles being conveyed and the roller are concentrated insuring maximum traction, while the magnetic lines of force between the v roller and the stationarycentral pole'are few per unit of area in comparison to the large area of the two bodies exposed to each other, thus insuring low reluctance and the passage of a large number of lines of force between these surfaces. This condition is also true as between the outer poles and the material being conveyed by the roller. Therefore, the present invention contemplates a highly eilicient magnetic circuit with correspondingly high traction force on the conveyed 4o, material.

it is to be understood that wherever the word magnetic or magnetizable is used throughout this specication it refers to material or articles which when brought into the field oi a magnet is capal5 ble of being magnetized.

inasmuch as many articles to be conveyed such as strips, plates, or sheets, offer a very limited cross section, but a large surface to the path of the lines of force, it is in such cases possible to eliminate the outside pole pieces entirely, without decreasing the efficiency of the unit, allowing the 'lines ci force to travel between the magnet base plate and the material being conveyed through the air. The advantages of this construction '55 are that it simplifies the construction, provides a highly mechanically efficient unit, and minimizes the tendency to pull the material down to the side poles. A unit so constructed can be positioned under a magnetizable roller in an existing table and supported on its own foundation, entirely independent of the existing conveyer table.

In order to construct magnets that will withstand the severe service and abuse to which they are subjected in rolling mills, it is desirable to eliminate all collector rings and so design them that the coils can be totally enclosed in a metallic container that is forced full of insulating compound. This construction eliminates, not only the possibility of mechanical abrasion due to the Charing of the insulation, but it also excludes moisture that would otherwise collect in the coil due to the heating and cooling of the unit, and tend to break down the insulation.

Other objects more or less ancillary to the foregoing and the manner in which all the various objects are realized will appear in the following detailed description, which, considered in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a magnetizable conveyer roller embodying this invention. Y

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan View of a conveyer table using a modified form of this magnet, while,

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a unit with all three poles having rotatable extensions, the magnet being shown as a lifting magnet in place of a holding down magnet.

Figure 6 is a sectional View of a part of a conveyer table illustrating a modified form of magnetizable conveyer roller; and

Figure 'l' is a sectional view of a further modiiication of magnetizable conveyer rollers.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, my improved magnetizable roller assembly comprises a substantially rectangular base plate 1 having integrally formed therewith longitudinal sides 2 which are preferably flanged at 3 to provide aprons upon which material being conveyed by a conveyer shell 4 is partially supported, and further to prevent material from falling down between adjacent rollers. Intermediate the ends of the base plate 1 are disposed supporting members 5 which carry bearings 7 in which the oppo- GTA site ends of the shaft 6 are journalled. Mounted on the shaft 6 is the conveyer shell 4 upon which the magnetizable material being conveyed is supported. The shell 4 is supported on the shaft 6 for rotation therewith. Suitable insulating material may be provided so that the outer conveying surface of the shell 4 is insulated from the shaft 6. This can be done by making spiders 8 of non-magnetizable material. Suitable driving means (not shown) are provided for effecting rotation of the shaft 6 through gear 9. Extending for substantially the full length longitudinally of the base 1 between the supporting members 5 and parallel to the sides 2 are upwardly projecting ribs 10 having faces 1l of complemental contour to the outer face of the roller shell 4. The clearance space between the face of the roller shell 4 and the faces 1l of the ribs 10 is relatively small. The ribs 10 and supporting members 5 form a substantially rectangular form about which is disposed the windings 12, the latter being housed in a suitable protecting non-magnetizable cover 13.

The entire supporting structure of the conveyer roller including the roller shell 4 and the windings 12 forms an electro-magnet, wherein the sides 2 and the apron members 3 form the outer pole, and the shell 4 and ribs 10 including the shaft supports 5 form a central bore about which the windings 12 are disposed. Leads 14 from the windings 12 are connected with a suitable source of energy.

When current is passed through the windings the magnetic lines of force flow from within the windings 12 through the members 10, l, 2, and 3, across the air gap 17 between the member 3 and the material 18 being conveyed, through the material 18 and the conveyer shell 4 and across the air gap 19 to the pole piece 10.

The conveyer shell 4 under ordinary conditions will convey material through friction due to the force of gravity, the total traction being the superimposed load multiplied by the coefficient of friction, when the shell is rotated by the shaft 6, but when the electro-magnet is energized the magnetic force is added to the force of gravity and the traction of the roller is greatly increased.

It is an advantageous feature of this roller that the magnetic lines of force acting upon the material being conveyed extend throughout the shell 4 due to the fact that the shell 4 serves as one pole of the electro-magnet. The central pole being much stronger than the other pole, there is very little concentration of the magnetic lines between the outer poles and the material being conveyed, and therefore Very little pull down on these outer poles. This is also important in order that there will be very little loss at this point in the circuit, therefore, adding greatly to the efflciency cf the roller.

Referring now to the Figures 3 and 4 there is illustrated amodiiied formof structure with which my invention may be practiced and wherein the magnet unit is a separate element and may be installed in conjunction with any ordinary conveyer table. As is shown in the drawings the conveyer table is of the ordinary type and comprises a plurality of conveyer shells 20 adapted to convey the material 39. The shells are carried on suitable shafts 2l and spaced therefrom by spider members 22. The shafts 2l are journalled in suitable bearings 23 carried by the frame work 24 of the conn veyer table. RotatiVe movement is imparted to the conveyer shells 20 through bevel gear 25 which meshes with bevel gear 26 carried by the driving shaft 27.

The electro-magnet unit which is adapted to be used in conjunction with the usual conveyer table hereinabove described comprises a base 28 having bolted thereto a magnetizable member 29 which acts as a pole piece of the magnet and may act as a base upon which is mounted the electro-magnet 30. The magnet 30 comprises a rectangular central core 32 provided with an extension in the form of a shoe 33 having a face 34 of arcuate configuration and complemental to the surface of the roller` 20. About the central core 32 are disposed the windings 35 which are housed in the casing 36 and suitably insulated therefrom. Suitable electrical energy is supplied to the windings through the leads 37.

The type of magnetic conveyer roller as disclosed in Figures 3 and 4 embodies many advantageous features over various other types in that the unit is greatly simplified and can be installed on any existing conveyer table without any material changes in that the electro-magnet unit is separate and independent of the conveyer roller. Due to the fact that the type of material to be conveyed presents a great surface area in comparison with its cross section it is possible to eliminate the use of outside poles.

The path of the magnetic lines of force of the magnetic conveyer unit shown in Figures 3 and 4 is as follows: from within the windings 35 and the core 32 to shoe 33, across the air gap between the face 34 of the shoe 33 and the periphery of the conveyer wheel 30, along the material 39 being conveyed, through the atmosphere to the base plate 29 and thence to the core 32 within the windings 35.

In the description of Figures 1 and 2 the direction of flow of the magnetic lines of force is opposite to that of the flow in the apparatus of Figures 3 and 4. It will be understood, however, that this is due to the direction of iiow of the current in the windings and that the con-` nections may be made in either of these forms of apparatus so that the magnetic lines will flow in either direction as desired. Either direction of flow gives the same results so far as conveying the material is concerned.

Referring now to Figure 5 there is disclosed a further modification of the magnetic conveyer roller wherein the material being conveyed travels along beneath the conveyer rolls. With par-v ticular reference to the drawings, there is shown a plurality of conveyer shells 40a, 4Gb. and 40e, rotatably mounted on shafts 42 through spiders 41. Rotative movement is imparted to the shafts 42 through suitable gearing (not shown) which co-operate with the drive shaft 43. In this modiiication the magnetic unit is disposed above and is suspended in close proximity to the conveyer shells 40a. 40h and 40C. The magnetic unit 44 consists of a central core 45 which has an extension thereon in the form of a shoe 46 of complemental configuration to the roller shell 40h. Suitable windings 47 are disposed about the core 45. The outer portion consists of extensions 43 on the casing which houses the windings 47. These shoes 43 are similar to the shoe 46 and are spaced in close proximity to their adjacent conveyer shells 40d and 40e on each side of the shell 40h which is spaced in close proximity to the central core 46.

The path of magnetic lines of force is as follows: from within the windings 47 and core 45 through shoe 46, across the air gap between the lia) shoe 46 and conveyer shell 40h, through the material 49, through the adjacent roller shells 40a and 40e on each side of the central shell 4Gb, through the air gaps between the shoes 48 and their adjacent conveyer shells, and thence through the walls of the casing to the core within the windings 47.

Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings there is disclosed a modified form of the type of magnetic conveyer unit disclosed in Figures 3 and 4, comprising an electro-magnet 50 disposed between adjacent conveyer shells 5l and 52. Conveyer shells 5l and 52 are rotatably mounted upon shafts 53, the latter being journalled in suitable bearing brackets 54 and maintained in driving relation with the driven shaft 55 through gearing (not shown). The electro-magnet 50 comprises a rectangular central core 56 having extensions 57 on the opposing ends thereof. The extensions 57 have arcuate faces 58 of complemental configuration to the periphery of the conveyer shells. Disposed about the central core 56 are the windings 59 which are housed in the casing 60. The casing 60 may be constructed of two different kinds of metals, both of which should be non-conductive of magnetic lines of force, for instance, the portion 6l of the casing 60 may be composed of manganese steel, While the portion 62 may be constructed of aluminum. In this way I obtain an apron that will stand excessive wear.

The path of the magnetic lines of force of this conveyer is therefore from the central core 56 within the windings 59 to one extension 57 thereof, through the periphery of the conveyer shell 5-l, along the material 63 being conveyed by the conveyer shell, through conveyer shell 52 and through air gap to the extension 57 on opposite end of core 56.

With reference to Figure 7 there is disclosed a further modification of the type of conveyer roller disclosed in Figures 3 and 4. The structure and use of this modification are quite similar to that disclosed in Figure 6 with the exception that the electro-magnet is disposed in a plane beneath the plane of the conveyer rollers. This type of electro-magnet conveyer roller comprises the usual conveyez as has been hereinabove illustrated embodying the conveyer shells 65 which are adapted to convey the material 66. The magnet which is adapted to be used in this unit is of substantially rectangular shape having a central core 67 and side members 68 upon which are disposed the shoes 69 having arcuate faces of complemental configuration to the conveyer shells 65. These arcuate faces 70 are disposed adjacent and in close proximity to the roller shells when the magnet is in operative position. Disposed about the central core 67 are the windings 71 which are held in place by suitable plate members 72 and 73 of non-magnetic material which co-operate with the side members 68 to form a substantially box-like container for the windings 7l.

The path of the magnetic lines of force is substantially the same as that disclosed in Figure 6, the magnetic lines owing from within the windings 71 and core 67, to one side member 68, shoe 69, across the air gap between the shoe 69 and roller shell 65, through the material 66 and thence through opposite roller shell 65 and across the air gap to the opposite shoe 69. Suitable electrical energy is supplied to the windings 7l through the leads 74.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character in order to completely set forth this invention, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and it is further understood that various re-arrangements of parts and structural details may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention as claimed herein.

I claim:

l. A device for conveying magnetizable articles comprising a magnet having poles of opposite polarity, one of said poles being extended to a point closely adjacent to the articles to be conveyed and constituting a part of the magnetic circuit, and an annular roller of magnetizable material engageable with the magnetizable article to be conveyed and constituting the other of said poles.

2. A device for conveying magnetizable articles comprising a substantially rectangular elongated magnet with a rotatable cylindrical pole piece positioned between and substantially parallel with opposite parts of the magnet frame, said rotatable pole piece being adapted to engage the magnetizable article to be conveyed.

3. A device for conveying magnetizable articles comprising a substantially rectangular magnet frame provided with an elongated pole, a rotatable cylindrical member supported by said frame with its opposite sides parallel with and closely adjacent to oppositely disposed parts of the magnet frame and with its surface extend ing slightly above the other pole of the magnet to engage with the magnetizable article to be conveyed, said member constituting one of the poles of the magnet.

4. A device for conveying magnetizable articles comprising a magnet frame with two elongated substantially rectangular poles of the same polarity secured together, a winding operatively associated with and between the said poles, a rotatable cylindrical pole piece disposed within the field set up when said windings are energized by an electric current with its peripheral surface closely adjacent to said magnet frame, said rotatable pole piece being adapted to engage a magnetizable article to be conveyed.

5. A device for conveying magnetizable articles comprising a magnet consisting of elongated pole pieces and a coil operatively associated therewith supported Within a suitable magnet frame, a shaft supported near the magnet frame and extending substantially parallel with respect to said pole pieces, a cylindrical rotatable shell of magnetizable material supported on the shaft and disposed with its surface parallel with and closely adjacent to the pole pieces of the magnet framev and adapted to engage the magnetizable article to be conveyed, said shell constituting part of the magnetic circuit.

6. In a device for conveying elongated magnetizable metal articles, the combination with a rotatable l conveyer roller magnetizable throughout its length with one polarity and positioned to contact the articles to be conveyed, ofv a magnet comprising a magnet coil, a core within and rigidly positioned with respect to the coil, and an elongated pole piece on said core disposed parallel with, and in close proximity to the exterior peripheral surface of said roller but out of Contact therewith, said roller together with the articles being conveyed constituting part of the magnetic circuit in which res the iiux flows in the direction of travel of said elongated articles.

7. A device for conveying elongated magnetizable metal articles comprising a rotatable roller magnetizable throughout its length with one polarity, and a magnet provided with a core having an elongated pole piece having a curved surface positioned closely adjacent to and concentric with the exterior cylindrical surface of said roller and remote from the line of travel of the material being conveyed, said roller together with the articles being conveyed constituting part of the magnetic circuit extending lengthwise of the said elongated articles.

8. A device for conveying elongated magnetizable metal articles comprising a plurality of rotatable conveyer rollers of magnetizable material adapted to rotate in the same direction, a magnet having a core provided with elongated pole pieces, said pole pieces and rollers being arranged in pairs with their surfaces closely adjacent to and parallel with each other.

9. A device for conveying elongated magnetizable metal articles, including a rotatable conveyer roller of magnetizable material positioned to contact the articles being conveyed, and a magnet located exteriorly of the roller and .having a core provided with pole pieces, one of the said pole pieces having an elongated pole piece lying closely adjacent to the exterior surface of said roller and substantially parallel therewith, the pole pieces being so disposed with respect to eachother that the ux flows in a direction lengthwise of the elongated articles being conveyed.

10. A device for conveying elongated magnetizable metal articles, including a rotatable conveyer roller of magnetizable material positioned to contact the articles being conveyed, and a magnet having a core provided with poles spaced apart along the path of travel of the said articles, one pole having an elongated pole piece which is positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of the roller and substantially parallel therewith, said pole piece being disposed remote from the articles being conveyed.

Vll. A device for conveying elongated magnetizable metal articles, including a` rotatable conveyer roller of magnetizable material and a magv net having a core provided with pole pieces, one of which pieces lies closely adjacent to and substantially parallel with the exterior surface of said roller and remote from the articles being conveyed, the pole pieces being positioned out of vertical alignment with each other so that the flux will flow in a direction lengthwise of elongated articles being conveyed.

12. A portable electro-magnet unit for removable and replaceable installation in cooperative relation with a conveyer roller of magnetizable material, said unit comprising a coil, a core, a non-magnetic housing for said coil, and an enlarged elongated pole piece having its face contoured to the exterior peripheral surface of the roller and being of a length substantially equal to the length of the latter.

13. In a conveyer for elongated magnetizable metal articles, a rotatable roller of magnetizable material positioned to contact the articles being conveyed, a magnet provided with a core having poles of opposite polarity positioned out of vertical alignment with each other, at least one of which poles is elongated and has a curved surface lying closely adjacent to and substantially concentric with the exterior peripheral surface of said roller, the magnetic circuit being completed through said core, elongated pole pieces across the air gap between the piece tov the roller, thence to and lengthwise of the articles being conveyed and thence to the pole of opposite polarity. f

14. In a conveyer for elongated magnetizable metal articles, a plurality of rotatable conveyer rollers of magnetizable material positioned to Contact the articles being conveyed, a magnetic coil having a core formed with pole parts positioned adjacent to the exterior peripheral surfaces of said rollers respectively, the magnetic flux passing through the core to one pole piece, across the air gap to the adjacent roller, thence into the article being conveyed and along the latter parallel with the direction of travel of said article to the other roller and across the intervening air gap toy the other pole of the magnet.

l5. In a conveyer for elongated magnetizable metal articles, a conveyer roller of material capable of being magnetized and positioned to contact articles being conveyed, a magnetizing unit exterior of and disconnected from said roller, said unit having one of its pole pieces cooperatively positioned closely adjacent to the exterior of said roller and remote from the line of travel of the articles being conveyed, means to rotate the roller, and another pole piece out of vertical alignment with the first said pole piece.

16. A device for conveying elongated magnetizable metal articles including a rotatable roller of magnetizable material `positioned to contact and convey such articles, and a magnetizable coil.

having a core provided with pole pieces of opposite polarity, one pole piece having an elongated surface substantially coextensive with the length of said roller, said elongated core surface being disposed remote from the article being conveyed, and being curved on substantially the radius of curvature of the exterior surface of the roller and being positioned closely adjacent to and substantially parallel with said exterior surface, a pole piece of polarity opposite to that of the first said pole piece being disposed out of vertical alignment with said first pole piece.

17. A device for conveying elongated magnetizable metal articles including a magnetizing coil, a core having a plurality of pole pieces provided with curved surfaces, and rollers of magnetizable material rotatable in the same direction, said rollers being substantially coextensive axially with the pole pieces, the rollers and pole pieces being arranged in pairs with the curved surface of the pole piece and the exterior surface of the roller of each pair being disposed in close proximity to and substantially concentric with each other.

18. A device for conveying elongated magnetizable metal articles including a magnetizng coil, a core having pole pieces of different polarities having curved surfaces, and rollers of magnetizable material rotatable in the same direction, said rollers and pole pieces being arranged in pairs with the curved surface of the pole piece and the exterior surface of the roller of each pair being disposed in close proximity to and substantially' concentric with each other, the pole pieces being connected to each other by a core extending vtherebetween and being disposed substantially parallel to the articles being conveyed.

19. A device for conveying elongated magnetizable metal articles including a magnetizing coil,- a core having pole pieces of opposite polarity substantially concentric with each other, the pole pieces being connected to each other by core parts certain of which are disposed at substantially right angles to the horizontal surface of the articles being conveyed.

FRANCIS W. JESSOP. 

